Best sturdy affordable video tripod

Finding a affordable, lightweight fluid head is not easy. I've done a lot of research and ended right back where I startet. Getting a cheap (good enough) video tripod. Right now I'm thinking about getting a Velbon videomate 638.

I've gathered some information below.

Comparing Magnus VT-4000 towards Manfrotto head 701 HDV
Best Budget Video Tripod: Magnus VT-4000 Review

"Best budget tripod that I've ever used"

"Very similiar to the Manfrotto 702 HD"


Alternative:
JIEYANG JY0508 (looks pretty much the same, and head has gotten good Reviews)
Price: ~120 US dollar.
60 mm bowl
Weight (g): 4.17 kg
Folded Length (mm): 850
Max Extened Length (mm): 1610

The jy0606 has a bigger 75mm bowl.

The head jy0506 has flat base.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjqXxRVGUnw&t=3s
THE best £55 Fluid Head - Smooth & Great For Holding Sliders (Jie Yang JY0506)

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Also sell under the name Fancier

Weifeng WF717, really hard to get a grip of these, seems to be Selling with diffrent size of bowl even though the same name.

Seems to break according to reviews.. 

only get the A versions... the other one has nasty legs.

Made in China by Ningbo Weifeng Image Equipment Group Co

Weifeng (E-Image) WF-717 tripod (ball mount)

It has a machined 75mm aluminium bown / half ball

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QJwL31bWxk

Some random notes:

717 with fluid head
WF-717 or IE-717 – both the same

1330mm

quick release plate comes with ¼ and a 3/8 inch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGq2CkcrIMI

The best fluid head tripod for £130 - Fancier 717 (E-Image / Weifeng)

not really a choice for drag control (paning) but you can lock it.

but for tilt there is.

Extra tripod head (for slider)
IE-717AH or IE-717A or WF-717A – All the same)

Fancier FC-270A has the same legs as this but with a better head.

E-Image GH03F might be newer and better version. Original Manufacturer of Fancier 717 (E-Image / Weifeng) AKA Varavon 815FH

 “Consider the Varavon 815FH, that has a flat base. You can then use it with bowl adapters if needed.”- Nitsan Simantov

Smaller bowl

WF-717H diameter 55mm (bearing 6kg)

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Magnus VT-300 Video Tripod with Fluid Head

Looks pretty much like Kingjoy VT-1500

which looks pretty much like the...

Velbon videomate 638, (see video further down)

Cost about 80 US dollar.

"The Velbon Videomate 638/F Aluminum Tripod is a 4.37 lbs camera support with a fluid pan-and-tilt head. It can reach a maximum height of 5.61ft with the geared center column fully extended and it has a minimum working height of 4.54ft. This portable tripod folds down to 26.38". The Videomate 638 will support a maximum of 8.82 lbs. This is an ideal tripod for today's lightweight video cameras."

Which looks pretty much like the... Velbon videomate 638

More Velbon Review:

Other recommeded tripods

Velbon DV-7000 (has mostly good reviews, but Nitsan does not think the head works for heavier cameras (DSLR), he likes the legs though. He suggest using another head. Legs open wide = more stable.)

95% of the parts are metal.

Cheap plastic leg-fasteners will break off with heavy-use

Max 4,5 kg

Best cheap fluid head video tripod (£80) - Velbon DV-7000 review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69xPTsaE-XU

Velbon DV-7000

Velbon DV-7000 has PH-368 head.

photo 1-1

photo 1-2

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BENRO A250FBH00, US $67.99

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Fancier FC-270A

Size of bowl: 75mm

FC-02H head (75mm Bowl Mount). Although these heads may provide smooth movements, keep in mind that bowl mounts are not the ones that make it easy for you to remove and use on Sliders.

Here's what I'd go with to do that on a budget: 

Velbon dv7000 tripod and head 

Konova stability arm 

Jie Yang jy0506 head

Fancier, Weifeng and E-image are the same company.

Other companies buy from them and sometimes add their own names to it. like cowboystudio or varavon.

Smaller tripod

Varavon Baby T1 (hihat tripod)

Flat head

Varavon 815fh head (same as this but confirmed by varavon that it's now made with the better oil) (flat mount = you can use on slider)



Libec TH-X Head and Tripod System
A little more expensive but seams like a smart base, with 65 mm bown and still mountable on a slider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTbYcIoM38&t=0s
New LIbec TH-X Video Fluid Head Tripod System - Drop In Manfrotto 501PL Plate Compatible


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